Autopsy on man whose remains were found in Center proves inconclusive

According to the Center Police Department, the autopsy performed on the 41-year-old man whose body was found on Sept. 1 proved to be inconclusive.

Det. Stephen Stroud with the Center Police Department said there was not enough there for the forensic pathologist to determine the cause of Richard Vance Ethridge’s death. Ethridge’s body was returned to his family.

Stroud said even though they have no answers about the cause of the Center man’s death, the case is still under investigation.

According to a press release, the Center Police Department received a 911 call on Sept. 1 at about 8:07 p.m. from a land owner, who said that while they were walking their dog in the back yard, they found a human skull and bones.

“Center Police Detectives Stroud and Haley responded to the residence where it was confirmed that the bones were in fact human,” the press release stated. “Upon further Investigation by Detectives Stroud and Haley, Detective Sgt. Faulkner and Texas Ranger Travis Brazil and DPS, more of the remains were recovered at the scene.”

The remains were taken to the UNT Health Science Center in Denton.

A hip replacement medical device found in the remains led to authorities identifying the remains as that of Ethridge, who had been missing since July 4.

Deputies with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office served a felony arrest warrant on a man after he allegedly tried to sneak a small plastic baggie containing marijuana in to the county jail Wednesday.

Deputies with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office served a felony arrest warrant on a man after he allegedly tried to sneak a small plastic baggie containing marijuana in to the county jail Wednesday.